This photo, taken by a race spectator at the Venetian Festival in Charlevoix, Mich., shows Lance Cpl. Myles Kerr running alongside 9-year-old Brandon Fuchs. Fuchs had been separated from his group and was running alone – so he asked Kerr to run with him, according to a post on the Facebook page Seal of Honor.

The post goes on to explain that Kerr ran alongside the boy for the rest of the race, encouraging him when he wanted to give up and making sure he was reunited with his group when it was all over. Although Kerr’s kindness caused him to finish last in his age group, he wouldn’t have it any other way.